Curious female here! :)

I was just wondering how many gentlemen out there chose nursing as their first profession? I just graduated in May and in my nursing program of 85 people, there were eight men. All of them, but one chose nursing as a second career. I was just always wondering why not more wanting to be nurses as their first career? What changed your mind? Have you always wanted to be a nurse, if so why not your first career chose? Thanks, I have just always wondered-Laura

I started out as an engineering major, but switched over, so this would be my first career* (I have been working as a unit clerk for 6+ years, so I put the *). I got into it because of my family (mom - MSN, dad - board certified physician, wife - BSN).

Oct 22, '07

Hi Laura. Congratulations on your recent graduation.

I started out with nursing as my first career choice. Even got accepted and enrolled in the nursing program at the local community college. But in the mid '70's the guys were not very welcome in the nursing field so I dropped out, continued my education but changed to Law Enforcement and I am now in my 30th year of that. Right now I am enjoying my second LE career but at some point I will reconsider nursing when the time is right.

You asked, what changed my mind? The nursing instructors. We had a class of 48 of which 2 of us were male. The other guy was a friend of mine from high school, so we knew each other. Very early in the program we were both called into an office and told this was not a good choice of careers for men. We were also told that we would never be allowed to work with female patients or peds. In school we would not be allowed to do practice assessments on female students but we would be the class guinea pigs for for the girls to assess us and do other things. That bothered me for reasons I will not go into here so I dropped from the program. The other guy's father was a lawyer and some well worded letters to the school administration smoothed the road for him. I last saw him at our 20 year HS class reunion and he was still at it, nursing that is.

Oct 22, '07

I have a degree in eng'g. but my second choice in college was accounting or nursing, during my 3rd yr. in eng'g., I almost shifted to nursing but I didn't...after 13 yrs of engineering practice, I took up nursing and now I'm a registered nurse and planning to be the best I could be as a nurse.
Just like that, life is short...live your life to the fullest, be what you want to be, enjoy life, God is good, good is life.

Oct 23, '07

Nursing is a sort of a first choice of career for me. I actually started taking heavy science courses to get into veterinary school but I started working as a nurse's aide and I fell in love with nursing. I lucked out because most of the science pre-reqs that I needed to get into the Nursing program were already done. I love animals and always wanted to help them, but I think sub-unconsciously I realized I could never put an animal down. A puppy or kitten can't tell you "Hey I feel pain here!" like a human can. I have ultra respect to all veterinarians out there because they have one of the hardest jobs in the medical field. But anyway, Nursing is just for me and will always be forever. And at the Ripe old age of 20 I think I made the right choice.

PS..... It's not for the money either. I get a natural high from making my patients laugh or getting them out of bed when they feel down. For people who are going into nursing for the money, I would not want you taking care of my family. Please realize nursing is customer service, just like retail. You must please people and take their ********, but it should also make you happy. A true nurse, like the ones who I work with(25 plus years in) will have a natural knack for people and will get a natural euphoria from getting them well and sending them home. Please think about that before entering nursing 101.

I was just wondering how many gentlemen out there chose nursing as their first profession? I just graduated in May and in my nursing program of 85 people, there were eight men. All of them, but one chose nursing as a second career. I was just always wondering why not more wanting to be nurses as their first career? What changed your mind? Have you always wanted to be a nurse, if so why not your first career chose? Thanks, I have just always wondered-Laura

Hi Laura,

I'm currently studying to become a nurse. But before, I was working as a software engineer, web developer, IT security specialist, and online marketer. I finally switched to nursing because I really got bored with my jobs. I need a more dynamic (I work better under stress) job where I could get closer to people and actually help them. So far so good!:spin:

Oct 27, '07

My very first formal job was as a nurse. I do not anticipate ever switching to a different career field.

Nursing is a sort of a first choice of career for me. I actually started taking heavy science courses to get into veterinary school but I started working as a nurse's aide and I fell in love with nursing. I lucked out because most of the science pre-reqs that I needed to get into the Nursing program were already done. I love animals and always wanted to help them, but I think sub-unconsciously I realized I could never put an animal down. A puppy or kitten can't tell you "Hey I feel pain here!" like a human can. I have ultra respect to all veterinarians out there because they have one of the hardest jobs in the medical field. But anyway, Nursing is just for me and will always be forever. And at the Ripe old age of 20 I think I made the right choice.

PS..... It's not for the money either. I get a natural high from making my patients laugh or getting them out of bed when they feel down. For people who are going into nursing for the money, I would not want you taking care of my family. Please realize nursing is customer service, just like retail. You must please people and take their ********, but it should also make you happy. A true nurse, like the ones who I work with(25 plus years in) will have a natural knack for people and will get a natural euphoria from getting them well and sending them home. Please think about that before entering nursing 101.

Good luck to all!!!!

:0

Good points. I didn't go into it for the money, though the fact that there was enough money in it to support myself (I hope) was a prerequisite. I'm still working as a PCA (aide) while finishing nursing school, and I do get the kind of euphoria you talk about. I'm tickled pink when I see cards patients or their families thanking the nursing staff for care and seeing my name mentioned (or my gender mentioned... as in "ladies and gentlemen of the nursing staff" or some such thing... since I'm the only male among the nurses and PCA's on the floor).

In answer to the OP's question, I have been a software engineer for the past 20 years or so. I just always wanted to do something for work where its value to society wasn't so abstract. Nursing presented itself as an option after talking to nurses I know. I knew I'd like it, but I didn't know how much I would love it until I got started.

Nov 1, '07

my first choice in college is nursing, and now im a registered nurse. and planning to marry a us citizen nurse also to make money and live happily ever after...
any girls out there?

Dec 3, '07

I have a BS in biology and a secondary education degree, but my next degree was a BSN. Nursing was my first professional career though.

Dec 3, '07

I still call nursing my first profession, despite beginning an apprenticeship in tool and die right after high school; it didn't last very long, though, and I went right back to upgrade my sciences and was off to nursing school by the time I was 19.

20 years ago there were 7 guys start in my class, with 5 guys finishing out of the 55 that graduated in total. All of them except one were right out of high school. The one mature student had been a hospital orderly for 20 years and decided to get his RN, so he already had his foot in the door, so to speak, because back then an orderly was doing simple procedures like vitals, catheterizations, NG tube placements, etc so it wasn't a whole new world for him.

I really think it had to do with maturity; the guys who perhaps were considering nursing in the back of their minds weren't mature enough to follow through because of the smaller numbers of males in the profession and the fear of not being accepted or being in a female-dominated world. I definitely see more mature male students than younger ones, and it has alot to do with being mature enough to accept what they really want to do and know that being happy and fulfilled in your work is more important than what anyone else thinks about the work you do. Too many guys make too much of a big deal about the whole gender thing, and realize afterwards that it really isn't an issue at all and wish they would have went into nursing sooner.

Also, whether male or female, mature students have a better understanding of what they really want to do with their lives, and priorities certainly change as you get older. Job satisfaction trumps wages but this takes maturity to realize.

I also believe that a mature nurse brings more to their profession than a very young nurse (as is true in many professions), because oftentimes life experience trumps basic nursing knowledge in the field and I know that my nursing practice gets better as I get older, not because my skills are more honed or my senses more accute, but becasue of that certain sage, deep-down feeling you get in your gut that sets you into auto pilot mode. Now that I've married, had kids, and soon-to-have grandchildren, and all the experience in several fields of nursing, I feel much better prepared as a person to deal with some issues that arise that I now realize take that level of maturity that only comes with time that I wasn't mature enought to realize earlier in my career.

There's something to be said about the ignorance of youth, granted, because it got me by at times years ago, but the wisdom of an old fart like me trumps the whippersnaper's lack-of, and even an old fart just beginning their career will still bring much to the table that the fresh-faced youth cannot.

Dec 6, '07

Hi curious female,
Everyone has a story to tell. Most people have a very interesting background. I enjoy asking others about their journey in life but seldom tell my story, especially at work. If you ask, it will surprise you to learn about the variety of backgrounds of the people that work with you.
As for me, nursing was neither my first career choice nor my last. It is only part of the scenery on the road of life. Initially I was a Military Policeman, became an Infantry Officer, then a pilot (flew search and rescue and many other types of missions) then Military Intelligence Officer. Retired. Went to a 2-yr nursing program in 1995, then obtained a Masters in Hospital Administration and JD in Health Law. Eventually found my way back to the classroom and obtained a BSN. In healthcare, I have worked as a consultant, attorney, and health facility inspector. I am now enjoying myself as a travel nurse, primarily in ICU's. I keep very low key and bill myself as a relatively new nurse, allowing others to teach me whatever they feel inclined to share. (When asked at work, I just say I was in the Army and I've had a BSN for four years - that's all the people I work with need to know.) One day I will return to the office, but for now, the bedside is a good place.
But what about you? What brought you to nursing.

Dec 6, '07

I started out for firefighting in college. Most departments around her you have to be a paramedic as well so I went to paramedic school (loved paramedic work but horrible pay) found out I liked the medical aspect of everything better than firefighting. So I stuck with nursing going to get into emergency medicine and maybe go into med school not sure on that yet.